WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6
The Lee Boys Fans of Robert Randolph would love a Lee Boys show. The Miami-based sacred steel band is sure to get your feet moving within seconds of playing. They played right before Randolph at this year’s Bonnaroo and had the crowd moving and swaying in no time to their funk rhythms and gospel lyrics. Double Door Inn (Jeff Hahne)
THURSDAY, AUG. 7
Pico vs. Island Trees Taking their name from a lawsuit, Pico members hail from Tenn. and N.C., but the music is not Southern rock as it is more awash in global pop sensibilities, harmonies and moods. There’s a touch of Brit-rock, a dash of ’60s folk-rock and plenty of alterna-pop that’s always brightly lit with words sung with joy, not angst. The trio’s music is dappled just so with jazz where even roots accents sporadically check in. Evening Muse (Samir Shukla)
FRIDAY, AUG. 8
Caltrop Beyond “heavy,” this Chapel Hill quintet resists simplistic pegging; there’s classic rock, psychedelia and blues in their take on metal, and a hard-to-put-your-finger-on Southern-ness that seems to pervade both the sludge and nuance. One other omnipresent factor: precision, audible all over their strong, Brian Paulson-produced debut, World Class. These boys can flat-out bring it. With Sled and Battle Beasts. Milestone (John Schacht)
Crooked Still Boston’s Crooked Still is currently touring to support their June release, Still Crooked. The band’s third album continues their combination of folk, bluegrass and world music. They’ve been around for five years and recently became a quintet, up from a quartet. Fiddles, banjo, cello, ukulele … they’ve even used a glockenspiel. Evening Muse (Hahne)
SATURDAY, AUG. 9
Bill Mallonee The former Vigilantes of Love front man has been going at it since the early ’90s, and while the critical acclaim has often followed – Paste named him one of their “100 Greatest Living Songwriters” – the sales haven’t. Nothing new about a talented songwriter going unnoticed by the masses, but Mallonee’s twangy folk narratives resonate enough that it’s surprising he’s not as well-known as his some of his Americana contemporaries. He should be. With former V-Roys Mic Harrison. Evening Muse (Schacht)
Sammies CD Release Party In honor of their new rekkid, Sandwich (MoRisen), the boys have declared tonight shall boast a “diner theme,” and are inviting dress-up. (For the fellers, a little wife beater and paper sailor hat, a la Mel from Alice, perhaps, sanitary socks and hair nets for the gals.) However you decide to gussy yourself, prepare to bring yer dancing shoes: despite having overhauled half their band, the Sams still boast the clearest-beating rock ‘n’ roll heart in the Q.C., and early bites of Sandwich (check their MySpace for a taste) suggest they’re still piling it on hot and thick. Visulite Theatre (Timothy C. Davis)
SUNDAY, AUG. 10
Street Light Suzie Sure they play cow-punk, and why not the trio is currently based in Austin, but there are also scads of trashy punk and garage rock. The core duo, Wiley Ross (guitar) and Ben Evans, (bass), and a rotating crew of skin pounders that of late includes Mark Perez (drums), make sure there’s plenty of rowdy yelping, drinking, and guitars smashing on hand at shows. The inebriated shenanigans only add to their rock for the sake of rock credo. The Robbins are also on the bill. Snug Harbor (Shukla)
TUESDAY, AUG. 12
Mouth of the Architect The modus operandi here is to induce trancelike head swaying while the fists remain clinched. Epic, psychedelic heavy metal with a distinct contemporary edge is what these Dayton, OH noiseweavers unleash. It’s Neurosis meets some zombified acid-induced flower power rockers from the ’60s. Wanna call it progressive metal, sure go ahead, but wear a helmet, just in case. With Intronaut, Behold … The Arctopus, and Zeus. Milestone (Shukla)
Kings X Some time back, in a Music Menu column far, far away, I said the following: “While not the prototype for grunge and the ‘alternative’ sound that some writers would have you believe (to paraphrase Freud, sometimes a band is just a band), King’s X has carved out a nice little niche in the music world with their brand of melodic thrum. Guitarist Ty Tabor, bassist Doug Pinnick and drummer Jerry Gaskill might not be Nirvana as far as power trios go, but when they blend some churchly three-part harmonies with the crunchy-sweet guitar work they’re known for, you’ll be enlightened.” I stand by most of that, with the possible exception of the enlightened part. Entranced, perhaps? Enlivened? How about a nice, simple “you likely won’t ask for your money back”? With Extreme. Amos’ Southend (Davis)
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2008.
